U.S. Economy Grew 2.8％ in Second Quarter, a Robust Unexpected Strengthening

The Washington Post

18:59 JST, July 26, 2024

The U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly robust 2.8 percent annualized rate in the second quarter, capping two years of solid expansion, despite some signs of softening.

Growth in the gross domestic product for the quarter ending in June was double the 1.4 percent reading in the previous quarter, but it reflects a general cool-down from last year’s brisk pace, according to Commerce Department data released Thursday morning.

“Economic growth is solid, not too hot and not too cold,” said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at Fwdbonds, a financial research firm. “The soft patch we had at the beginning of the year has gone away, and with it, the risks of a recession are dying on the vine.”

Consumer spending, business investments and new inventory drove almost all of the second quarter’s growth. Continued government spending at the federal, state and local levels also helped prop up the GDP reading, which sums up goods and services produced in the United States.

However, a slowdown in home construction and other residential investments dragged down economic growth – a turnaround after three straight quarters of solid growth.

Consumer spending, which slowed earlier in the year in part as cold winter temperatures kept shoppers at home, came roaring back in the second quarter. Americans spent heartily on goods such as cars, recreational vehicles and furniture.

The economy’s brisk growth is a welcome development for the Biden administration, which has had a tough time convincing Americans that they are better off than they were four years ago. On Thursday, President Biden doubled down on his economic messaging, touting nearly 16 million new jobs, wage gains and low unemployment during his presidency. “Today’s GDP report makes clear we now have the strongest economy in the world,” he said in a statement.

But economists say the pickup in economic growth, and consumer spending in particular, isn’t expected to last long term. Many lower- and middle-income families are struggling to cover basics, and more people are falling behind on loan payments.

The rapid recovery since the onset of the pandemic has recently lost steam, as high borrowing costs force households and businesses to rethink spending. Home sales have stalled, manufacturing is slowing, and factories are seeing a drop-off in demand for U.S.-made goods. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate – at 4.1 percent as of June – has edged up for three straight months.

Still, economists say a gradual cool-down is a welcome reprieve from years of too-hot growth that stoked inflation. The labor market remains strong, and consumers are still spending, albeit with less gusto than they were a year ago.

A recent boost in inventory has helped lower prices and drive sales at Mohawk Chevrolet, a car dealership in Ballston Spa, N.Y. After years of pandemic-related shortages and hiccups, president Andy Guelcher says he has finally been able to build up his stock of cars.

“We’re rebalancing after what was very, very light inventory in 2023,” he said. “As a result of that, pricing has gotten more competitive, and we’re starting to see a lot more consumers pop up. They were waiting for a deal, and now they can get one.”

The surprisingly upbeat GDP report adds new uncertainty to whether the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates in September, as previously expected. The central bank has kept borrowing costs at a two-decade high since last summer to temper inflation. In congressional testimony this month, Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell said the United States is “no longer an overheated economy,” thanks in large part to a moderating labor market. “Conditions have returned to about where they stood on the eve of the pandemic: strong, but not overheated,” he added.

Economists say that sentiment largely stands. Although second-quarter growth was stronger than expected, it wasn’t brisk enough to reignite inflation and derail the Fed’s plans.

“The door might be shutting on a September rate cut, but so far it’s still open,” said Beth Ann Bovino, chief economist at U.S. Bank.

Although much of the economy is humming along, some pockets, such as housing and construction, have retreated more dramatically. Sales of new homes are down 7.4 percent from a year ago, while existing-home sales have fallen by 5.4 percent, according to fresh data this week.

In Seattle, new business at home-remodeling firm Gaspar’s Construction has dropped 30 percent in the past year. Clients, who tend to rely on home-equity lines of credit, have pulled back in response to higher interest rates.

“Remodel projects are smaller, and people are not willing to extend themselves as much,” owner Sarah Henry said.

Even so, Henry is optimistic. She is looking to add three more people to her staff of 57 and says the Seattle housing market has been surprisingly resilient. Plus, the Fed appears poised to ease monetary policy in the coming months.

“Interest rates are going to give, and, at some point, they’re going to come down,” she said. “That is very much going to help us.”